Why do you shoot competitions?

fieldgrade

fieldgrade

waiting...
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Life Member
Benefactor
Supporting Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
29,182
Location
Wake/Harnett
Rating - 100%
14   0   0
Some of you shoot because you are competitive, and want to win.

Some of you want to improve your shooting and demonstrate what you've been practicing hard at home.

Some want to see how your guns and gear run on the clock and under stress.

Some just want to get outside, shoot guns, hang out with their firearms friends.

Me?

Lunch.


IMG_0617.JPG
 
Last edited:
All the above. I like to beat my friends, then go eat lunch/dinner. That’s arrogant of me to say, I know, but I want it to cut deep....dont make me tag you fools
@....
@....
 
Lunch looking good

Ive done them in the past because its fun. I dont expect to win, I dont 'train' like that, but its fun to run around and shoot guns.
Could I do that just by going to the range? Sure. But its fun to know youre being timed and scored, a little more pressure
 
I compete because I wanna be competitive. It gives me something to work towards.

I've met some great folks along the way.
 
No pix but had a great meal with Slacker and Jayne after a shoot up in Oxford a month or so back. Good times and good fellowship!
 
Bailey Boat said:
Money, if there ain't no money, front side or back side, then why am I doing this???
Click to expand...

That’s precisely how I feel. With all the money I have made shooting Rimfire matches I will soon be able to build a mansion with marble floors and gold fittings.

Bringing new shooters into the sport is especially lucrative. After I supply all the ammo and various equipment, I have a tidy profit left over.

But the mansion itself is a shelter made from the friends and relationships I’ve built. And while the profit from creating new shooters and supporters of the 2A is not currency...it is nonetheless a substantial investment in the future of my rights.

I’ve never spent this much money on anything else in my life. But I’ve also never felt more wealthy as a result of the expense.
 
I am a competitor, and enjoy seeing how I perform under the timer and stress inoculation of matches. Comparing how I navigate a stage as compared to other participants. The camaraderie between the participants who cheer and jeer as squad members engage the stages. Gathering together after the match to partake of a meal and compare notes, along with discussing upcoming matches to compete in.
 
JimP42 said:
Oh there’s money. Lots of it. All yours, pissed away!
Click to expand...

Only in your mind, not in my wallet....

NKD said:
Precisely. I just sit in a chair all day until someone pays me to do something. Because money is the only thing that matters in life.
Click to expand...

Not really, it's nice to win also......
Studentofthegun said:
That’s precisely how I feel. With all the money I have made shooting Rimfire matches I will soon be able to build a mansion with marble floors and gold fittings.

Bringing new shooters into the sport is especially lucrative. After I supply all the ammo and various equipment, I have a tidy profit left over.

But the mansion itself is a shelter made from the friends and relationships I’ve built. And while the profit from creating new shooters and supporters of the 2A is not currency...it is nonetheless a substantial investment in the future of my rights.

I’ve never spent this much money on anything else in my life. But I’ve also never felt more wealthy as a result of the expense.
Click to expand...

Very nicely put, a little melodramatic, but nice.....

I assume everyone's through now?? I've been shooting competitions longer than most of you have been alive. Yes, I've made money and friends doing it and stopped taking trophies a long time ago, the events live in my memory.
I've grown a little tired of "dry" competitions so if there's not money of some matter on the line, I usually pass. I still enjoy shooting with friends for chump change and will probably continue that for the rest of my life. If you think a timer adds stress try shooting for money at the same time..... That separates the men from the boys....
 
Bailey Boat said:
Money, if there ain't no money, front side or back side, then why am I doing this???
Click to expand...

My riflesmith has built rifles for several state and national champions. Even with a few sponsors, they found out at the end of the day, too much travel, missed work, time away from home and there was no money in it. One guy switched to tournament bass fishing and still couldn't make a living. On the other hand, I had a friend in college 41 years ago whose dad was putting him thru college by bass fishing. Times have changed but there's still very few people making money as pro shooters.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
Times have changed but there's still very few people making money as pro shooters.
Click to expand...

I never said I made a living at it. My best years might have me "making" $15,000 if I run the circuit as hard as I can, and that's before I deduct expenses.
Time away from work was never an issue, it's the entry fee's, hotel bills, meals, equipment upkeep, ammo and whatever cost to get to the shoot.
Let's say there's a shoot in Charleston, SC and the high overall shooter (winner) can collect $4000.00.
Entry will run roughly 40.00 per gauge times 5 gauges (includes doubles on Friday) = $200.00
Gas and vehicle to get there and back = $100.00
Hotel while there @ 150.00 per night, 3 nights = $450.00
Meals for 3 days, 2 nights with a couple of drinks after dinner = $150.00
Shells for the competition (500) and practice (400) 36 boxes = $360.00
At a minimum you're $1260.00 just to get there and shoot, are we having fun yet?? If you win ($4000.00) you're up by $2740.00 (IF you don't have any equipment upkeep cost)
But when you place any lower than winner it decreases until it has cost you an arm and a leg and you've won nothing.
Naturally if it's a "local" shoot the cost are reduced but there aren't any local shoots that pay any money and I've got all the belt buckles and trophies I need.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
...and because...guns!
Click to expand...

That's why I started shooting IDPA. The idea of testing myself against targets in simulated situations, under the clock, with real guns and ammo and holsters and mag holders was very appealing. I'm too old and started too late to compete against anything except myself. I practice when I can, and am chauffeured, if not driven, to get better.

The camaraderie and fellowship are a bonus, if not the actual driving force for my pistol competitions.
 
@Bailey Boat
I shoot registered clays, and started out shooting ATA Trap. I was filling in for someone as a volunteer to help with squadding at our club (Durham County Wildlife Club) which was hosting a local shoot some years ago. My squad came up, later in the morning because I was working, and I rushed out and got my stuff and made it to the field, post 1 running the squad. Not really ready, if you get my drift. Called pull and got a hard left, missed the first bird, and thought "hell, I'm done."

I bet in a 2.5 day skeet shoot if you miss a couple in doubles on Friday, and miss one in 12-gauge Saturday morning, it makes for a long, depressing weekend.
 
Last edited:
fieldgrade said:
I am reminded of something you said a couple of years ago.

"Thanks. Just what I needed. Another hobby."

:D
Click to expand...

I'm down to three: sporting clays, IDPA, and golf. I used to think golf was expensive, but sporting clays trumps it. (Can I use that verb in an open forum LOL?) Shotguns are way more expensive than golf clubs, entry fees are more than greens/cart fees, and multiples of dollars are spent on ammo vs golf balls. Beer costs the same, but you can't drink till after the shooting which is a downside.

IDPA is relatively inexpensive compared to clays. A reasonable polymer gun, even with upgraded sights, trigger, springs, magwell and grips, oh and holster, mag holder, runs a small percentage of a good clays gun. $20 entry fee is about 1/3 of registered clays shoots, and 1/6 or so if you travel to shoot clays and shoot two rounds (morning and afternoon). Ammo cost for IDPA a little less, not by much.

FatboyFlash said:
I gotta admit, I’m in it for the women!
Click to expand...

You're in for a long, dry spell if I read the local shoots correctly! Most of the female groupies I've seen were following younger, fit guys wearing some sort of uniform-like attire. By the way, I'd do anything to have one of those young, fit bodies - short of diet and exercise, of course!
 
Bailey Boat said:
Only in your mind, not in my wallet....

Not really, it's nice to win also......
Very nicely put, a little melodramatic, but nice.....

I assume everyone's through now?? I've been shooting competitions longer than most of you have been alive. Yes, I've made money and friends doing it and stopped taking trophies a long time ago, the events live in my memory.
I've grown a little tired of "dry" competitions so if there's not money of some matter on the line, I usually pass. I still enjoy shooting with friends for chump change and will probably continue that for the rest of my life. If you think a timer adds stress try shooting for money at the same time..... That separates the men from the boys....
Click to expand...


7aikm.jpg
 
Geezer said:
Been a while since you've been to Charleston, huh?
Click to expand...

Yea, but I'm a cheap date also...... And you're right, it's been a while since i was in Charleston...

dmarbell said:
@Bailey Boat
I shoot registered clays, and started out shooting ATA Trap. I was filling in for someone as a volunteer to help with squadding at our club (Durham County Wildlife Club) which was hosting a local shoot some years ago. My squad came up, later in the morning because I was working, and I rushed out and got my stuff and made it to the field, post 1 running the squad. Not really ready, if you get my drift. Called pull and got a hard left, missed the first bird, and thought "hell, I'm done."

I bet in a 2.5 day skeet shoot if you miss a couple in doubles on Friday, and miss one in 12-gauge Saturday morning, it makes for a long, depressing weekend.
Click to expand...

I started ATA at age 19 and switched to skeet sometime around 35 or so. Tournaments began to be won by one or maybe two targets in my 30's and competition became stiffer (younger) every day. I'm more apt to drop one or two in .410 than anything else. Today if you're not posting 3 X 100 and maybe a single 99 with a 99 kicker (498 x 500) you're done for, go home, lick your wounds, calculate how much money it cost you to "go have fun".
I will admit that I'm over competitive, I don't want to shoot against anyone but the best guy there, regardless of ranking. I don't want to win my "class" I want the whole cookie or nothing. If I can cover expenses I feel like I've done well.....
When I shoot with friends "for fun" I'm not so bad about wanting to beat everyone and tend to have more fun than balls to the wall shoots.
 
Last edited:
fieldgrade said:
And the annual spring baseball trip.
Don't forget the baseball trip.
Click to expand...

Spring Exhibition Baseball Trip and early June 4-day Myrtle Beach Golf Trip, each on done annually for around 20 years. These are not hobbies, they are healthcare trips (read as "mental health").
 
Bailey Boat said:
Very nicely put, a little melodramatic, but nice.....
Click to expand...

Thanks. I think.

Bailey Boat said:
I assume everyone's through now??
Click to expand...

Are you ever through with being condescending?

Bailey Boat said:
I've been shooting competitions longer than most of you have been alive.
Click to expand...

Never mind. You just answered my question above.

Bailey Boat said:
If you think a timer adds stress try shooting for money at the same time..... That separates the men from the boys....
Click to expand...

Any World Championship puts quite a bit of stress on a shooter whether there is money on the line or not. I’m assuming with all your experience you’ve been to a match at that level before, correct?

I personally believe that all disciplines are laudable and have respect for competitors regardless of what they choose. Denigrating then in any way makes no sense to me.

Nor does it make sense to me that someone would crow about their personal accomplishments in competitive shooting, then become very upset when a range is closed for a competition that slightly inconvenients them.

While that sort of hypocrisy is evident with many times of competitive shooters, I see more arrogance on the part of shotgunners than anyone else. Perhaps their tweed jackets are too tight. But then I see venues like Kidd’s Place play host to the likes of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly so they can peddle their anti-gun rhetoric.

I’ve got one of the college kids interested in sporting clays. The young fellow is just a natural. I don’t have the skill in that area to help him much but I figure I’ll take him to one of the local “pros” and they’ll fix him up.
 
Studentofthegun said:
Thanks. I think.



Are you ever through with being condescending? Do you know about the IGNORE feature here??



Never mind. You just answered my question above.



Any World Championship puts quite a bit of stress on a shooter whether there is money on the line or not. I’m assuming with all your experience you’ve been to a match at that level before, correct?

I personally believe that all disciplines are laudable and have respect for competitors regardless of what they choose. Denigrating then in any way makes no sense to me.

Nor does it make sense to me that someone would crow about their personal accomplishments in competitive shooting, then become very upset when a range is closed for a competition that slightly inconvenients them. When I pay membership dues to that club it does upset me. Less than a small percentage of the participants in that match are members. Free loaders yes, members no. When you're PAYING DUES to play you'll have a voice, until then no.....

While that sort of hypocrisy is evident with many times of competitive shooters, I see more arrogance on the part of shotgunners than anyone else. Perhaps their tweed jackets are too tight. But then I see venues like Kidd’s Place play host to the likes of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly so they can peddle their anti-gun rhetoric. Can't imagine that, let 'em sink into the Giffords trap and see how long they survive..

I’ve got one of the college kids interested in sporting clays. The young fellow is just a natural. I don’t have the skill in that area to help him much but I figure I’ll take him to one of the local “pros” and they’ll fix him up.
Click to expand...
 
Not sure it makes sense to call someone a freeloader that pays a fee to shoot a match. Must be one of those “alternative facts”.

One time I won something like $200 at a State level match. Got high overall and first place in iron sight division too. But, I donated it back to that club. They had some legal bills because of an anti-gun person that owned land next door. They won the legal battle but the lawyer bill must have been substantial.

I doubt I will ever consider winning money my main goal. Seems like it would take something like a hobby I enjoy and make it feel a bit like work. But that’s how the pros do it. Jerry once told me he stopped shooting certain kinds of matches because there wasnt any money in it anymore. Said he won a huge match and got nothing but a used revolver. Now I think many of those pros rely on selling what they get off the prize table to make ends meet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom